Challenge

Taba Opera Stadium
Spectators: 50 (Terracing: 38, Seating: 11, VIP seats: 1) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joel Gaona took the kick off in the first half of the match. Zhang Hong Xun showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Gaona, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. Constancio Jaque received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Dante Lacasa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mexico's Dante Lacasa proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 12th minute of the match, managed to save Mexico from getting a goal against them. Zhang Hong Xun took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alberto Tafalla, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 21 minutes Tabalongo AFC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Joel Gaona who took care of the corner kick. 22 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Binjamin Ketelers came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Constancio Jaque in the 25th minute of the match. Lautaro Mancebo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Zhang Hong Xun tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lautaro Mancebo in the 31st minute of play forced Tabalongo AFC's goalkeeper Zhang Hong Xun to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lautaro Mancebo recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 41st match minute, Tabalongo AFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Marciano Asmussen to maneuver through the defense. After 46 minutes, Dario Bessa mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Tabalongo AFC and the Mexico players grew even worse after the yellow card. Dario Bessa hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Binjamin Ketelers was the one to do the kick off. 53 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Constancio Jaque came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joel Gaona in the 54th minute of play forced Tabalongo AFC's goalkeeper Zhang Hong Xun to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Lautaro Mancebo got free with Zhang Hong Xun in the 57th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tabalongo AFC made a substitution. Max Vinkens replaced Marciano Asmussen. In the 59th minute Mexico were awarded a corner. Joel Gaona went to the cornerflag to take it. In the 61st minute the ball was on its way in behind Tabalongo AFC's goalkeeper Zhang Hong Xun, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Filip Frankowski in the 62nd minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 63 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Filip Frankowski came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Constancio Jaque in the 65th minute of play forced Mexico's goalkeeper Dante Lacasa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 70 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Filip Frankowski came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Dante Lacasa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Filip Frankowski in the 70th minute of play. Zhang Hong Xun showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Joel Gaona in the 73rd minute of the match. 75 minutes into the match, Mexico's goal looked a bit too open when Max Vinkens came free, but Dante Lacasa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Max Vinkens in the 77th minute of play. If Lautaro Mancebo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 81st minute, Felix Luque hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mexico's Dante Lacasa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Filip Frankowski in the 82nd minute of play. 84 minutes into the match, Tabalongo AFC's goal looked a bit too open when Alberto Tafalla came free, but Zhang Hong Xun reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alberto Tafalla fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zhang Hong Xun having to interfere. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Mexico players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.